So, what is the difference between Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coating – the Ultimate Paint Protection Package for your vehicle from Bravo Protection Products. Let’s find out:
Nothing compares with the feeling of purchasing a new car. One cannot stop admiring the glossy exterior and fresh paintwork as it catches the light. While buying a car, there are many words thrown around, and someone who doesn’t have much experience buying cars or dealing with them may feel a bit overwhelmed.
Inevitably, cars lose their shine after a few years due to natural wear and tear, either covered in watermarks or bleached by the sun; it’s never quite the same.
If you’re looking for superior protection for your new car’s paint surface, paint protection film or ceramic coating is a clear choice. Over the years, these two products have been fine-tuned by XPEL. These products also utilize the best technology to provide a layer of protection that’s hard to beat.
This blog will talk about two major types of car coating readily available at Bravo Protection Products and see everything about them – Paint Protection Film (or Clear Bra, such as XPEL Ultimate), and Ceramic Coatings (FUSION PLUS™); read on to know more.
Why Should You Coat Your Car?
If you want your car to look gorgeous and want the shine to last forever, like the first day you got her, PPF or Ceramic coating is necessary. Unfortunately, with the stock paint, the shine will vanish even before you drive the car back home. Coating adds an invisible layer on top of the paint. And it is durable enough to take punishments while still shining like a star.
You must be wondering that you can perhaps achieve that shine with some intense cleaning sessions. True; however, no amount of rubbing, scrubbing, or wax will mitigate the damage your car takes daily.
Keep in mind that almost everything on the road negatively affects the paint on your car. From the rain to kids randomly giving a new scratch across the length of your beloved car, your car’s paint is always in danger. A simple coating from Bravo Protection Products can prevent all this and go a long way. At Bravo, we don’t want to see your car dirty or roughed up, and that’s where coating helps a ton.
What is Paint Protection Film?
Paint Protection Film (PPF) is a transparent urethane material applied to any exterior painted surface on your vehicle. Automotive Paint Protection Film from Bravo Protection will preserve the quality of your car’s paint. By reducing the risk of various kinds of damage, such as:
- Chips and scratches caused by road debris and rocks
- Hard water spots from mineral deposits
- Swirl marks created during washing
- Chemical etch marks and stains caused by acidic contaminants
- Oxidation (fading) from exposure to UV rays
What is Ceramic Coating?
Ceramic Coating, a liquid polymer, is applied to the exterior surfaces of a vehicle. It chemically bonds with the car’s stock paint after application and establishes a layer of protection and a hydrophobic surface. Ceramic Coating’s hydrophobic properties make it harder for contaminants to bond with your car’s paint. Ceramic Coating has two enormous benefits for the car owner:
- It helps keep your car clean for longer periods.
- It also makes your car easier to clean when it’s due for a wash.
Ceramic Coating will also help reduce the risk of some specific kinds of damage, such as:
How is a Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coating Similar?
Both Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coating serve the purpose of keeping your car looking newer for an extended period by protecting and preserving your car’s paint. Apart from this common central aim, the two products also have some overlapping performance features. Specifically, both the Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coating help reduce damage from UV exposure and acidic contaminants.
Finally, no matter if you choose to Paint Protection Film or Ceramic Coating from Bravo Protection Products, you’ll be adding value to your vehicle.
How can Paint Protection Films and Ceramic Coatings Be Different?
Despite the similarities mentioned above, Paint Protection Films and Ceramic Coatings have significant differences and serve different purposes.
Paint Protection Films are relatively thicker than Ceramic Coatings, and they have a chemical composition that allows them to self-heal. It means that it returns to its original form after receiving an indentation or abrasion. Due to these qualities, XPEL’s Paint Protection Film available at Bravo Protection can absorb small scratches, swirl marks, and rock chips without being permanently disfigured.
Ceramic Coating doesn’t have this ability despite the wild claims of some manufacturers and installers. Truthfully, Ceramic Coating doesn’t eliminate the risk of rock chips, scratches, swirl marks, and water sports, as well as PPFs, but they’re still very effective.
However, Ceramic Coatings come with their own set of strengths, particularly in terms of the hydrophobic surface they create. Paint Protection Films also come equipped with a hydrophobic clear coat. But they often don’t perform at the same level as full Ceramic Coating. Moreover, when you apply Ceramic Coating to your vehicle. You get the benefits of its hydrophobic properties on every surface without applying film to the whole vehicle.
So, How Do I Choose?
While Paint Protection Film & Ceramic Coating share many benefits, some differing factors have the ability to influence your decision-making. Paint Protection Films offer a lot more protection against abrasions from road debris and rock chips than Ceramic Coatings, as the urethane film can absorb a lot of damage before it enters your car’s paint.
Though PPFs do offer a lot of protection, they’ll eventually need to be replaced, and in some cases, it may require upkeep if it yellows or blisters. Ceramic Coatings are more of a permanent solution. In some cases, Paint Protection Film may also dull the glossiness of your car slightly, while Ceramic Coating will enhance it.
Paint Protection Films and Ceramic Coatings offer different protective properties and keep your car looking swanky and shiny for longer. It can be challenging to choose between them, but they work very well together and provide peak protection when paired together.
Paint Protection Films offers optimum protection from rock chip damage and scratches. On the other hand, Ceramic Coating provides glossiness, hydrophobicity as well as cleaning ease. And together, this car paint protection duo will make watermarks, acid damage, and oxidation a thing of the past.
While you weigh up your options, you can ask our experts for help. No matter what you choose, rest assured your car will become shinier and better than before.
What’s the best solution or Ultimate Protection for Your Vehicle?
The good news is that you don’t have to worry about which product is right for your car, and you don’t have to choose one or the other. Both these types of protection can be applied to the same vehicle. We at Bravo Protection Products believe that the dynamic duo of Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coating is the ultimate form of invisible protection you can buy for your car.
If you’re wondering how it all works, PPF is applied first to the portions of your car that’ll be most susceptible to rock chips or scratches from road debris. And because Ceramic Coating doesn’t protect against this kind of damage. It’s vital to apply Paint Protection Film to the hood, front bumper, side mirrors, fenders, rocker panels, and the rear wheel arch.
Once the most vulnerable areas of your car are protected with Paint Protection Film. However, your car will also receive Ceramic Coating. The coating bonds to both the vehicle’s factory paint and the film that was already there.
When applied on top of PPF, Ceramic Coating will provide an additional layer of protection from stains and chemical etching. It’ll help keep the film clean and free from contaminants. It’ll also lengthen the life of the film.
For all the passengers residing in your car, whether they’re protected by film or not, the Ceramic Coating will still thwart oxidation and stains or chemical etch marks. Further, the hydrophobic surface makes it harder for contaminants to bond with the vehicle. Keeping the paint cleaner and making it easier to wash.
Together the Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coating will preserve your car’s paint over the long term and enhance its appearance on a day-to-day basis.
Ensure the Ultimate Protection for Your Vehicle with PPF and Ceramic Coating Film from Bravo Protection Products
So if you aim to protect and preserve your car’s paint so that it looks stunning every day you drive it, a combination of Paint Protection Film and Ceramic Coating may be the best fit for you.
If you’d like to explore your opportunities with Bravo’s Paint Protection Film or Ceramic Coating, get in touch with us now. If you’re ready to drive protected, contact us today to schedule an appointment. And the best part, at Bravo, we always treat our customers like family. So, if you want to ask any questions you may have about how you can protect your car’s paint, we’re always there.